07/19/2024
This morning we will revisit the story of the neighbor who would not get immediately out of bed when asked for three loaves. Jesus uses this story of persistent knocking to instruct his apostles on waiting for the Holy Spirit, but it is true also of all our prayers... we are to have perseverance, faith, and humility. Let’s look also at the death and resurrection of Lazarus, and what Mary and Martha expected when they asked Jesus to come, and later when He told them that He would raise him from the dead.
“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"”
Luke 11:9-13 ESV
Quite often our prayers are not answered with the swiftness we desire. Our expectation of timeliness doesn't match that of God's will to provide for us, but don't abandon your petition. Jesus teaches us that perseverance in prayer is required as we wait for God to give us our requests. In the case of the Holy Spirit being promised to the disciples, they were instructed to wait and pray for the Spirit. They didn't question why... They just did as they were told and began to pray. When God is having you wait for your promised answer to prayer... How do you handle it?
It is so tempting to abandon unanswered prayer, or to go about trying to obtain our need in some other way. These are times when faith is often challenged and God's word is doubted... Don't let that happen to you. God gives us encouragement to wait in scripture… lean on it.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:8-9 KJV
If God is willing to have patience with us as He waits for us to come to him, then how should we then act as we wait on Him to provide our wants? His timing is always perfect regardless of our perception of it.
This morning let's pray first and foremost for the faith to wait on the Lord, then for the humility to suffer as we wait, and finally for determined perseverance as we continue to pursue our prayers... Just as the disciples did while waiting on the promised comforter. Let's thank God for His perfect timing; even though our desires are yet to materialize... Let's thank Him for His faithfulness to His Word.
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for each answered prayer, and for teaching us to be patient as you answer them. Help us to remain steadfast in our prayerful petitions, and to have faith in the fact that you are true to your word, and will give us what we pray for if we will do so in accordance with your will, character, and in the name of Jesus. Teach us to be patient Holy Father, and to endure whatever hardships we must as we await your provision. Help us to look for your answers to come in the way you wish to deliver them, and not ours. Just as Martha and Mary thought that Lazarus would be healed by Jesus, but he died instead, and that when Jesus said he would raise him from the dead, that he was meaning to raise him on resurrection day, when He actually meant that very day, we too should watch and listen for your will, and your decided actions as you answer our prayers. Teach us not to give up when our own prayers for healing end in death, because you have your will, and purpose, in answering our prayers… perhaps you will raise our loved one, or maybe allow us to join them in heaven. Whatever your will might be it will most certainly be good. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose word is true, but whose actions are often a mystery to us. Send angels to us Abba to strengthen us in our faith, and let your Holy Spirit give us understanding in due course as your will is worked. Call us to believe in our prayers, and to see you in your mysterious answers. Make us more like Jesus with each prayer we pray, and make us worthy of everlasting life as we believe and trust in you always. We do not know the day nor the time of His coming, nor do we know the way in which He will descend, but we do know that it will be in your good time, and your chosen way… let our prayers be as our belief in His return… sought by seeking your will, and expectant of a mystery… a miracle. Amen!
“So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.””
John 11:20-27 ESV
“As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.”
Ecclesiastes 11:5 ESV
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Rich Forbes